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Industries with winter employment peaks

December 03, 2014

Many industries follow seasonal employment patterns over the course of a year as holiday schedules and weather affect hiring. Retail trade includes many industries with peak employment levels during the winter months because of holiday shopping.
Employment in selected private-sector industries, not seasonally adjusted, January 2004–September 2014
Month Temporary
help
services		 Clothing
and clothing
accessories
stores		 Department
stores,
except
discount		 Electronics
stores		 Home
furnishings
stores		 Sporting
goods
stores		   Shoe  
  stores  		 Mail-order
  houses  

Jan 2004

 2,135,000 1,333,100 712,300 500,400 271,600 202,700 181,000 162,000

Feb 2004

 2,160,400 1,296,200 680,900 491,800 266,400 201,200 175,300 159,900

Mar 2004

 2,207,300 1,310,500 683,400 491,600 264,400 205,000 176,300 160,000

Apr 2004

 2,301,900 1,314,800 683,500 492,300 265,900 204,400 178,500 159,500

May 2004

 2,372,900 1,331,900 687,200 484,700 266,200 207,400 180,700 162,100

Jun 2004

 2,407,000 1,356,500 690,100 484,700 267,800 211,400 181,300 164,800

Jul 2004

 2,408,700 1,371,100 691,200 481,800 264,900 208,800 182,100 166,200

Aug 2004

 2,485,300 1,384,100 692,100 482,000 268,500 211,400 188,300 167,200

Sep 2004

 2,524,700 1,355,800 685,900 485,600 268,800 209,600 186,100 173,300

Oct 2004

 2,599,600 1,374,800 718,600 504,800 274,300 212,500 180,700 179,300

Nov 2004

 2,550,600 1,442,800 792,500 528,900 288,400 217,200 182,900 193,100

Dec 2004

 2,492,900 1,499,400 828,700 538,200 292,000 222,900 184,900 195,900

Jan 2005

 2,297,400 1,386,600 720,800 509,600 276,200 210,300 178,400 168,100

Feb 2005

 2,331,100 1,345,400 683,200 498,100 270,200 205,700 174,000 163,600

Mar 2005

 2,377,000 1,353,500 675,800 500,200 269,400 209,100 173,700 163,600

Apr 2005

 2,452,300 1,354,500 672,100 497,800 270,800 209,800 173,700 163,900

May 2005

 2,497,700 1,371,200 667,900 496,000 272,200 214,600 176,500 159,300

Jun 2005

 2,563,000 1,400,400 670,300 498,900 273,500 218,400 180,200 158,500

Jul 2005

 2,541,000 1,433,200 670,000 498,900 271,900 221,400 180,800 162,300

Aug 2005

 2,639,100 1,443,800 671,200 507,800 276,600 224,300 185,700 166,700

Sep 2005

 2,707,200 1,398,600 669,600 512,000 274,900 219,300 180,100 174,900

Oct 2005

 2,737,000 1,411,000 694,300 523,600 284,100 222,700 182,100 182,300

Nov 2005

 2,737,200 1,501,400 766,100 547,700 297,400 228,200 181,700 197,400

Dec 2005

 2,712,300 1,575,500 795,800 561,300 301,300 235,000 189,900 200,500

Jan 2006

 2,456,700 1,439,600 680,900 523,000 289,600 224,300 182,600 169,300

Feb 2006

 2,468,600 1,385,800 647,200 514,300 281,500 221,400 177,600 158,700

Mar 2006

 2,518,700 1,384,300 638,600 511,900 280,200 223,200 177,500 155,500

Apr 2006

 2,559,400 1,380,100 633,100 499,400 282,700 224,000 179,200 155,000

May 2006

 2,644,100 1,382,300 628,000 496,100 281,200 227,800 177,600 153,600

Jun 2006

 2,677,700 1,419,900 632,200 498,700 283,200 235,600 181,500 153,600

Jul 2006

 2,636,800 1,450,800 625,500 495,100 284,400 234,900 183,800 153,400

Aug 2006

 2,727,000 1,466,000 620,700 495,600 283,300 236,600 187,300 157,200

Sep 2006

 2,744,200 1,430,500 613,700 494,900 282,200 232,300 183,200 167,600

Oct 2006

 2,767,300 1,459,900 638,000 504,600 292,200 233,400 184,400 179,800

Nov 2006

 2,735,700 1,573,500 715,500 524,400 303,300 242,900 187,300 200,900

Dec 2006

 2,712,200 1,637,700 741,600 527,700 311,600 250,800 198,800 200,300

Jan 2007

 2,488,900 1,484,300 662,300 510,200 294,400 241,800 191,800 167,200

Feb 2007

 2,482,300 1,426,700 626,500 505,300 284,100 233,300 182,900 159,400

Mar 2007

 2,525,100 1,438,400 614,900 506,600 283,100 234,100 185,300 157,300

Apr 2007

 2,551,000 1,446,800 610,800 505,400 282,500 236,500 188,700 152,600

May 2007

 2,602,100 1,449,400 609,700 500,800 282,700 237,400 185,000 152,400

Jun 2007

 2,627,400 1,467,000 620,100 501,000 278,900 241,900 184,400 150,700

Jul 2007

 2,580,900 1,499,000 616,900 501,700 278,000 245,600 185,000 153,100

Aug 2007

 2,650,200 1,522,200 614,200 500,700 283,300 246,900 192,800 155,900

Sep 2007

 2,669,700 1,472,400 613,400 501,300 278,500 245,300 187,600 162,200

Oct 2007

 2,704,300 1,490,900 631,800 509,400 287,600 248,900 187,400 173,300

Nov 2007

 2,664,800 1,629,100 702,800 538,100 311,000 261,400 191,100 194,000

Dec 2007

 2,621,700 1,673,500 746,100 545,600 316,500 262,400 200,500 197,500

Jan 2008

 2,396,700 1,497,100 650,400 515,600 295,200 254,700 191,700 163,800

Feb 2008

 2,358,700 1,434,700 605,600 508,800 278,800 245,500 187,300 158,200

Mar 2008

 2,372,200 1,445,600 595,900 509,500 272,300 245,300 188,400 156,300

Apr 2008

 2,389,400 1,440,800 580,500 505,600 270,200 243,600 188,400 154,600

May 2008

 2,406,400 1,435,800 576,000 501,500 267,100 244,500 185,900 154,100

Jun 2008

 2,408,200 1,445,000 577,600 498,800 265,700 247,800 184,700 149,900

Jul 2008

 2,354,600 1,470,900 576,300 496,000 262,200 250,000 186,700 149,500

Aug 2008

 2,387,300 1,493,800 563,900 493,800 260,800 253,000 194,500 150,600

Sep 2008

 2,399,900 1,435,000 551,700 489,900 256,700 248,100 186,700 156,100

Oct 2008

 2,360,600 1,452,100 566,500 497,200 262,300 252,600 184,000 164,700

Nov 2008

 2,227,000 1,511,500 621,600 506,600 265,600 252,900 187,200 177,000

Dec 2008

 2,119,400 1,554,200 675,100 506,000 267,200 255,500 193,700 176,800

Jan 2009

 1,844,700 1,397,500 577,400 480,000 244,200 240,800 181,500 154,800

Feb 2009

 1,789,200 1,341,900 543,000 470,800 230,700 233,300 176,200 147,200

Mar 2009

 1,753,900 1,327,200 528,300 449,900 224,500 233,600 176,900 144,100

Apr 2009

 1,736,200 1,322,600 518,300 447,500 221,500 231,600 177,500 143,800

May 2009

 1,771,200 1,325,200 520,600 445,800 218,700 235,400 178,600 143,100

Jun 2009

 1,756,300 1,337,500 522,500 444,500 217,400 239,800 178,100 141,400

Jul 2009

 1,750,500 1,352,400 525,500 443,200 216,600 241,700 177,300 140,700

Aug 2009

 1,790,000 1,360,000 534,900 446,600 216,600 246,500 182,800 142,400

Sep 2009

 1,845,700 1,330,400 528,100 449,100 216,200 238,800 176,300 147,600

Oct 2009

 1,913,500 1,355,500 539,900 452,500 224,400 233,200 174,900 157,000

Nov 2009

 1,956,800 1,432,900 610,200 469,400 235,600 240,300 181,000 165,200

Dec 2009

 1,971,200 1,483,300 644,800 474,600 241,900 247,000 184,900 171,200

Jan 2010

 1,834,700 1,355,800 561,000 463,100 225,300 233,600 176,700 145,500

Feb 2010

 1,857,800 1,308,100 537,800 453,300 216,100 225,700 172,700 141,400

Mar 2010

 1,908,100 1,318,200 531,200 455,400 215,300 227,800 176,600 141,200

Apr 2010

 1,977,400 1,325,000 527,500 452,100 214,100 230,300 175,300 140,800

May 2010

 2,066,600 1,319,500 528,900 450,400 214,300 230,400 177,400 138,900

Jun 2010

 2,097,000 1,332,900 532,000 450,900 214,700 234,000 178,800 138,300

Jul 2010

 2,082,300 1,346,000 539,700 453,500 214,100 235,100 182,600 136,800

Aug 2010

 2,148,700 1,348,000 545,400 458,100 214,000 237,000 189,900 138,500

Sep 2010

 2,204,200 1,312,400 535,600 461,500 216,900 232,200 181,600 146,500

Oct 2010

 2,286,700 1,351,800 551,500 478,600 231,100 236,000 181,300 152,500

Nov 2010

 2,309,800 1,435,800 607,800 500,500 238,000 244,500 188,300 159,100

Dec 2010

 2,349,900 1,476,000 653,000 500,700 242,900 251,900 196,400 163,600

Jan 2011

 2,105,500 1,349,700 572,900 476,300 229,300 242,500 185,900 148,300

Feb 2011

 2,147,100 1,295,500 548,100 467,300 220,100 236,100 177,100 140,000

Mar 2011

 2,205,200 1,295,000 542,900 467,500 218,900 237,100 180,500 138,500

Apr 2011

 2,245,300 1,306,200 535,900 469,000 217,500 240,300 180,300 137,400

May 2011

 2,298,500 1,310,900 532,900 465,800 218,100 243,000 181,300 138,900

Jun 2011

 2,300,000 1,333,300 541,900 468,500 218,500 246,400 181,000 136,800

Jul 2011

 2,254,100 1,344,900 553,400 468,600 219,800 252,500 184,800 137,600

Aug 2011

 2,343,400 1,359,900 549,500 462,000 218,700 253,800 189,500 141,200

Sep 2011

 2,403,400 1,340,800 540,400 453,600 220,300 248,200 186,700 146,100

Oct 2011

 2,470,900 1,375,200 554,600 462,400 234,600 250,800 185,500 155,100

Nov 2011

 2,484,500 1,480,200 616,500 484,700 241,600 259,300 189,200 164,900

Dec 2011

 2,498,200 1,539,700 670,000 487,200 244,600 262,600 196,500 166,700

Jan 2012

 2,292,300 1,375,800 619,400 462,500 231,800 247,400 184,900 147,300

Feb 2012

 2,347,800 1,319,200 551,300 456,900 221,400 242,400 179,900 138,700

Mar 2012

 2,373,700 1,330,400 535,000 451,900 219,800 248,500 182,200 136,100

Apr 2012

 2,411,100 1,331,900 525,600 450,000 216,900 253,900 182,400 133,800

May 2012

 2,490,200 1,335,500 517,300 442,000 219,300 258,800 184,000 134,400

Jun 2012

 2,528,100 1,349,000 508,100 440,500 219,000 264,300 185,000 133,200

Jul 2012

 2,494,800 1,363,100 509,100 438,200 219,600 265,800 190,700 134,100

Aug 2012

 2,547,800 1,384,400 503,600 432,200 223,000 265,000 188,800 138,200

Sep 2012

 2,570,200 1,363,600 496,200 429,100 223,100 257,700 187,100 143,900

Oct 2012

 2,625,000 1,400,800 507,800 436,100 234,000 259,000 183,000 151,500

Nov 2012

 2,641,400 1,563,100 565,500 471,400 247,100 272,500 203,600 166,000

Dec 2012

 2,621,400 1,580,500 602,700 467,400 250,500 273,200 208,300 170,500

Jan 2013

 2,409,300 1,420,800 542,200 456,600 233,800 261,700 195,000 144,100

Feb 2013

 2,442,300 1,341,400 518,100 440,200 227,500 259,500 185,600 137,000

Mar 2013

 2,495,200 1,338,400 513,500 428,000 223,000 261,800 187,100 133,900

Apr 2013

 2,548,300 1,327,300 520,000 424,400 225,600 260,000 186,800 132,900

May 2013

 2,622,700 1,336,200 511,300 423,100 225,700 262,000 188,400 132,000

Jun 2013

 2,664,600 1,360,200 513,500 421,500 226,100 267,000 191,800 132,700

Jul 2013

 2,640,600 1,384,400 520,500 424,300 227,200 270,600 198,800 132,700

Aug 2013

 2,712,900 1,410,300 513,200 429,100 225,700 273,000 203,400 135,400

Sep 2013

 2,781,100 1,364,900 505,500 433,400 225,200 269,600 197,900 140,200

Oct 2013

 2,818,000 1,376,100 515,900 456,600 237,500 272,700 199,000 150,300

Nov 2013

 2,843,800 1,518,600 583,900 483,900 250,300 288,600 213,000 159,200

Dec 2013

 2,855,100 1,578,500 628,600 485,900 258,400 293,000 221,000 166,100

Jan 2014

 2,652,200 1,407,000 555,900 474,200 238,900 276,200 205,500 144,600

Feb 2014

 2,685,600 1,344,400 520,900 445,200 229,900 269,200 200,400 138,200

Mar 2014

 2,741,200 1,338,500 512,600 440,100 227,200 272,700 202,000 137,200

Apr 2014

 2,785,700 1,351,000 510,800 428,600 226,000 274,500 204,100 138,900

May 2014

 2,850,300 1,354,000 508,400 425,100 227,300 277,000 204,900 138,900

Jun 2014

 2,890,400 1,366,600 513,100 429,400 227,100 278,800 206,000 140,000

Jul 2014

 2,858,600 1,387,600 521,800 433,000 227,700 278,100 209,900 139,000

Aug 2014

 2,940,300 1,401,600 518,200 435,400 233,000 281,900 212,400 139,900

Sep 2014

 3,004,900 1,354,800 509,000 439,300 233,300 276,500 207,000 142,800

 

Employment in selected private-sector industries, not seasonally adjusted, January 2004–September 2014 (continued)
Month Hobby, toy,
and game stores		 Other
specialty food stores		 Book stores
and news dealers		 Cosmetic and
beauty supply
stores		 Electronic
shopping
and
electronic auctions		 Tax
preparation
services		 Photographic services   Skiing  
  facilities  

Jan 2004

 136,300 132,300 160,100 100,300 53,900 175,200 75,900 79,000

Feb 2004

 129,400 132,400 152,700 99,400 55,000 190,200 74,300 76,200

Mar 2004

 126,700 129,900 150,100 98,200 55,600 173,200 78,000 62,800

Apr 2004

 124,400 131,000 148,500 99,000 56,000 161,800 80,800 26,400

May 2004

 124,000 132,300 151,700 99,500 56,200 44,200 80,700 10,700

Jun 2004

 125,400 134,500 143,800 98,600 56,400 36,400 78,600 11,600

Jul 2004

 123,400 132,100 146,500 98,700 56,400 32,100 77,400 12,900

Aug 2004

 124,700 131,400 151,500 98,800 58,400 29,200 83,400 14,000

Sep 2004

 128,200 131,200 163,900 98,600 59,900 28,900 91,200 14,900

Oct 2004

 136,700 134,600 154,200 99,900 61,400 31,500 98,700 15,700

Nov 2004

 153,800 138,700 156,300 101,800 63,000 20,300 100,600 28,500

Dec 2004

 163,500 139,500 164,200 102,900 63,700 62,900 92,100 54,900

Jan 2005

 137,600 129,200 160,300 96,200 61,600 175,400 76,100 76,000

Feb 2005

 132,300 129,000 150,500 97,100 62,500 200,500 78,400 71,000

Mar 2005

 130,000 127,600 148,500 96,100 64,200 176,500 81,700 62,600

Apr 2005

 129,900 126,100 146,500 97,300 65,400 166,200 84,000 24,200

May 2005

 129,000 128,900 147,800 96,900 65,700 51,100 83,800 10,500

Jun 2005

 129,900 128,500 144,300 98,000 67,000 45,300 81,900 10,100

Jul 2005

 129,500 128,400 143,100 95,700 68,000 40,000 78,000 10,300

Aug 2005

 130,900 130,000 148,800 97,400 69,300 43,500 85,800 10,800

Sep 2005

 132,900 127,700 153,300 91,900 70,700 46,900 93,800 9,200

Oct 2005

 143,300 128,900 149,700 97,100 72,400 49,100 100,400 9,500

Nov 2005

 161,700 133,300 152,600 102,000 73,200 63,800 99,700 21,000

Dec 2005

 169,900 134,200 160,800 105,200 73,600 108,900 94,900 62,600

Jan 2006

 141,900 122,100 159,400 94,300 70,300 189,900 77,800 80,600

Feb 2006

 133,000 125,200 152,400 92,700 71,300 203,700 78,500 74,200

Mar 2006

 132,300 122,800 146,600 93,600 71,200 184,400 80,500 64,300

Apr 2006

 132,300 122,900 144,400 90,200 70,300 180,100 80,600 27,900

May 2006

 129,500 122,400 147,600 91,600 70,900 54,500 80,500 10,900

Jun 2006

 130,300 124,100 138,400 92,500 69,900 45,100 76,300 12,000

Jul 2006

 127,900 123,400 134,600 94,200 70,700 37,900 79,000 12,900

Aug 2006

 128,500 124,400 147,700 95,000 73,200 39,500 81,700 13,500

Sep 2006

 128,500 123,600 148,600 96,000 75,200 41,100 86,400 13,200

Oct 2006

 137,200 125,800 146,500 94,900 77,600 41,900 87,600 13,300

Nov 2006

 167,200 132,300 150,100 101,600 80,500 68,600 88,900 26,600

Dec 2006

 175,100 133,200 157,800 102,600 81,500 116,800 85,100 60,400

Jan 2007

 151,300 123,200 153,800 98,400 78,100 204,400 73,300 72,200

Feb 2007

 140,900 124,700 149,300 97,300 77,300 223,700 75,100 75,600

Mar 2007

 138,300 125,700 146,000 96,300 77,600 194,700 80,200 65,000

Apr 2007

 138,700 124,600 144,400 97,700 79,600 183,900 81,600 33,100

May 2007

 138,300 125,700 148,500 97,600 79,700 55,900 82,000 14,100

Jun 2007

 140,000 126,200 139,000 99,400 79,300 44,900 79,300 15,300

Jul 2007

 139,400 126,300 138,900 95,300 80,600 39,200 76,600 17,400

Aug 2007

 141,400 125,300 147,400 95,100 81,800 41,500 85,100 17,200

Sep 2007

 139,500 121,900 157,000 95,800 84,200 43,500 88,000 16,800

Oct 2007

 147,900 123,200 146,900 98,700 86,500 46,600 90,400 18,300

Nov 2007

 170,200 129,400 150,100 106,200 92,600 66,100 89,500 30,500

Dec 2007

 176,300 134,900 157,900 110,900 95,000 134,600 87,400 62,100

Jan 2008

 150,200 123,500 162,900 102,900 88,500 227,200 79,400 77,100

Feb 2008

 141,300 122,700 153,000 98,900 88,500 233,100 79,100 76,900

Mar 2008

 139,400 122,900 141,500 98,600 88,300 199,300 82,500 66,900

Apr 2008

 132,200 122,000 139,800 99,800 90,400 192,800 82,700 36,500

May 2008

 133,100 121,300 143,200 96,900 92,000 57,600 80,600 13,500

Jun 2008

 136,300 120,100 134,000 97,300 90,800 47,200 76,000 14,600

Jul 2008

 135,200 121,200 128,700 96,400 91,800 42,900 74,600 15,000

Aug 2008

 136,900 120,500 146,200 96,700 92,500 48,300 79,800 14,800

Sep 2008

 139,800 118,100 153,400 96,500 94,700 51,500 86,900 14,300

Oct 2008

 154,700 116,300 140,500 98,500 97,200 50,200 90,300 16,600

Nov 2008

 173,700 119,900 140,800 101,800 98,400 61,600 89,400 26,400

Dec 2008

 178,000 123,400 148,600 105,500 99,400 117,700 84,700 60,800

Jan 2009

 155,300 115,900 143,700 94,000 94,600 208,000 68,600 80,600

Feb 2009

 141,700 114,500 134,600 95,700 92,100 225,100 69,500 77,300

Mar 2009

 142,300 115,400 126,700 96,500 91,800 202,500 72,100 64,700

Apr 2009

 138,900 114,900 125,100 95,700 92,400 193,900 73,900 29,700

May 2009

 138,600 116,300 124,400 94,900 92,500 62,400 69,600 12,200

Jun 2009

 137,800 117,900 118,800 94,600 92,900 49,000 66,200 13,600

Jul 2009

 137,100 117,100 114,800 94,600 92,800 43,200 63,200 15,100

Aug 2009

 137,600 115,200 127,500 94,400 94,000 42,900 66,600 15,900

Sep 2009

 139,900 112,500 143,300 98,300 93,100 43,900 73,000 15,300

Oct 2009

 143,800 111,500 126,700 102,000 94,400 49,400 78,700 17,900

Nov 2009

 164,900 115,600 127,100 108,500 99,800 60,500 79,500 30,400

Dec 2009

 169,600 114,900 134,200 111,700 103,700 122,100 76,500 59,800

Jan 2010

 150,500 114,000 132,700 102,600 93,100 237,000 62,400 77,300

Feb 2010

 145,000 110,200 129,400 101,100 92,100 242,200 62,900 76,500

Mar 2010

 142,900 110,500 118,100 97,800 93,200 198,600 66,600 66,800

Apr 2010

 139,700 110,800 117,500 98,500 96,000 188,000 68,000 31,400

May 2010

 139,600 113,800 117,500 99,500 97,400 50,100 65,300 14,300

Jun 2010

 143,200 115,800 113,000 101,800 100,100 38,900 62,700 17,500

Jul 2010

 141,800 114,600 108,700 99,400 102,400 33,000 60,000 18,900

Aug 2010

 142,500 116,800 121,500 99,600 104,000 34,800 64,200 20,200

Sep 2010

 143,300 115,000 125,500 100,800 107,300 32,400 70,600 20,000

Oct 2010

 153,800 113,800 113,400 104,700 110,900 33,400 74,400 22,400

Nov 2010

 177,400 115,400 117,100 112,600 111,400 69,100 78,200 35,700

Dec 2010

 185,300 115,400 124,200 116,500 113,800 111,700 80,000 67,300

Jan 2011

 154,400 110,500 120,500 106,300 107,300 190,800 65,200 79,700

Feb 2011

 145,900 110,600 114,000 104,400 106,200 202,200 63,800 76,800

Mar 2011

 144,700 110,800 108,400 105,200 108,000 190,700 63,000 69,600

Apr 2011

 144,400 112,700 103,500 106,500 110,100 182,800 66,600 41,700

May 2011

 145,600 113,800 101,900 109,200 112,500 79,400 67,100 13,500

Jun 2011

 149,400 115,900 95,400 109,400 115,600 65,800 67,300 14,300

Jul 2011

 150,100 117,300 95,900 112,900 116,400 50,600 64,100 14,700

Aug 2011

 155,200 116,500 106,200 114,200 118,700 45,200 68,500 14,100

Sep 2011

 154,700 114,100 109,700 112,200 120,300 39,600 76,600 12,300

Oct 2011

 159,100 114,100 93,600 114,000 123,500 40,600 78,100 12,900

Nov 2011

 180,200 118,600 94,000 124,800 127,000 48,200 77,300 29,900

Dec 2011

 177,800 121,000 98,200 125,300 127,100 114,900 73,100 57,400

Jan 2012

 154,700 115,700 96,400 121,300 124,900 200,600 58,600 82,100

Feb 2012

 149,800 113,800 97,100 121,500 125,800 215,900 59,400 78,000

Mar 2012

 147,900 114,000 91,000 120,300 126,800 187,200 62,700 61,200

Apr 2012

 147,300 114,600 89,600 118,000 128,800 177,700 64,600 31,400

May 2012

 149,300 116,000 91,500 119,400 129,900 60,300 64,800 14,000

Jun 2012

 152,500 117,800 84,500 117,600 133,500 45,600 65,000 16,400

Jul 2012

 151,600 115,900 82,700 119,600 134,800 37,400 61,200 17,600

Aug 2012

 151,300 117,600 98,000 120,000 137,300 37,300 67,100 18,500

Sep 2012

 150,500 116,100 103,200 117,800 136,200 37,000 72,600 18,200

Oct 2012

 158,500 117,500 90,900 121,800 141,300 38,500 78,200 19,200

Nov 2012

 180,100 122,300 96,200 132,200 145,500 49,500 77,400 36,100

Dec 2012

 179,000 126,000 99,000 137,300 148,200 103,200 75,500 59,100

Jan 2013

 159,400 114,900 101,900 123,800 145,200 175,300 61,600 77,300

Feb 2013

 150,600 116,500 97,300 122,200 144,900 193,500 60,200 75,500

Mar 2013

 147,600 116,400 87,500 121,300 145,000 179,300 62,900 69,000

Apr 2013

 146,500 116,000 87,800 123,200 145,500 172,800 67,000 38,000

May 2013

 145,900 119,400 91,100 124,300 147,700 59,300 68,200 15,300

Jun 2013

 148,200 120,700 88,300 124,500 148,800 47,800 68,200 18,100

Jul 2013

 148,900 122,200 86,400 123,800 152,000 43,200 67,700 19,400

Aug 2013

 152,500 124,400 93,200 124,700 154,400 43,800 72,800 19,700

Sep 2013

 153,200 122,900 94,700 126,000 156,900 44,100 77,800 18,800

Oct 2013

 167,000 129,000 89,800 129,900 161,300 46,400 82,100 20,100

Nov 2013

 198,900 131,500 91,200 137,100 166,700 63,900 83,500 34,700

Dec 2013

 208,700 135,500 94,900 142,100 166,800 82,200 82,800 82,400

Jan 2014

 155,500 126,800 92,500 128,900 157,600 161,200 69,100 98,700

Feb 2014

 144,200 128,500 86,900 126,200 157,500 188,500 66,700 98,500

Mar 2014

 142,200 127,200 86,200 125,900 159,200 173,600 69,500 85,200

Apr 2014

 140,500 128,600 87,100 127,200 162,400 165,900 72,500 44,600

May 2014

 139,300 129,900 90,100 127,800 163,600 61,100 71,000 19,700

Jun 2014

 138,100 133,800 87,900 129,100 170,200 54,200 69,300 22,400

Jul 2014

 137,600 135,500 84,900 127,800 172,100 49,200 66,400 23,600

Aug 2014

 138,600 137,800 87,500 128,700 175,000 50,200 71,800 23,600

Sep 2014

 142,200 137,400 94,500 130,900 177,100 51,900 76,000 22,900

Two industries closely associated with the shopping season between Thanksgiving and Christmas are department stores, except discount, and hobby, toy, and game stores. Both typically reach employment peaks in December. Over the last decade, the seasonal employment peak in department stores has usually been 1.2 times higher than its low. The peak in hobby, toy, and game stores has been 1.3 times higher than its low. Cosmetic and beauty supply stores have followed a similar pattern. The winter increase in employment is not as large in electronics stores, home furnishings stores, and sporting goods stores. 

Unlike other retail industries, clothing and clothing accessories stores, shoe stores, and book stores and news dealers have employment peaks in both the summer and the winter in most years.

Many industries have had winter employment peaks even as they experienced a general decline in employment during the 2007–2009 recession. The opposite has happened in the electronic shopping and electronic auctions industry. Within that industry, December employment peaks often precede steep employment declines. Employment in the industry continues to trend upwards, however, and each winter peak typically is higher than the previous peak.

A few industries outside retail trade have had winter or near winter peaks in employment. Employment in photographic services (which includes portrait photography services) usually peaks in October or November.

Employment in tax preparation services peaks near the end of winter, in February. Employment in the industry then declines slightly in March and April before a steeper decline starting in May. On average, the employment peak in tax preparation services employment has been 5.9 times higher than the annual low.

The largest relative change in employment over the year occurs in skiing facilities. In the past decade, the peak in skiing employment (about 79,000, on average) has been 6.4 times higher than the average annual low (12,650).

Temporary help services employment usually peaks in the last quarter of the year. The peak is about 1.2 times higher than the industry's annual low, but the seasonal employment increase averages over 360,000 jobs.

These data are from the Current Employment Statistics (CES) program and are not seasonally adjusted. You can find data for these and other industries using the CES Databases tools. This chart features both small and large industries, so the data appear on a logarithmic scale to show the employment changes clearly for all industries. With a logarithmic scale, a distance along the upper part of the vertical axis depicts a larger employment difference than the same distance in the lower part of the chart.

SUGGESTED CITATION

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, Industries with winter employment peaks at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2014/ted_20141203.htm (visited April 30, 2024).

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